The United States has reiterated its call for a full, formal and transparent investigation into violence in Burma’s Rakhine State and laid emphasis on international community’s participation for finding a solution there.
“We call for a full, formal and transparent investigation into the situation there,” US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat told reporters on Monday.
She observed that no one had access to that region for sometimes and it is important to get that access for humanitarian support to the people there and to know what is going on inside Burma. The US Ambassador was responding to questions at DCAB Talk in the city arranged by Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB). DCAB President Angur Nahar Monty and general secretary Pantho Rahman also spoke.
Earlier on November 15, Director, Press Office of the US Department of State Elizabeth Trudeau said they are concerned by reports of a spike in violence in Burma’s Rakhine State and are following the situation closely and attempting to get reliable information about developments there.
The US Ambassador to Burma Scot Marciel, along with a visiting delegation of officials from the State Department as well as other US agencies, held a previously scheduled bilateral dialogue with the Government of Burma in Naypyidaw The US delegation stressed the need for the government of Burma to facilitate a “credible and independent investigation” of these allegations to improve transparency and information sharing, and to provide access for both media as well as humanitarian aid, according to US Department of State.
Bangladesh also expressed deep concern at the continued deteriorating situation in the Rakhine State of Myanmar due to ongoing actions of the Myanmar Armed Forces causing dire consequences to the people and its implications for Bangladesh.
On November 23, Ambassador of Myanmar to Bangladesh Myo Myint Than was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet Ambassador Kamrul Ahsan, Secretary (Bilateral & Consular) who conveyed government’s concern. Secretary (Bilateral & Consular) informed the Ambassador that desperate people from the Rakhine State are entering into Bangladesh due to humanitarian situation seeking safety and shelter across borders. Ahsan requested the Ambassador to request his Government to take urgent appropriate measures so that Muslim minorities in the Rakhine State are not forced to seek shelter across the border.
Bangladesh urged Myanmar to take urgent measures to bring back normalcy in the Rakhine State so that those who have already crossed and those who are waiting to cross the border, along with the internally displaced people can go back to their villages without fear and with safety and dignity to pursue their normal life.
Despite Bangladesh’s Border Guards sincere effort to prevent the influx, thousands of distressed Myanmar’s citizens including women, children and elderly people continue to cross border into Bangladesh.
